The fate of a major Isle of Wight housing development will be decided next week – after a study revealed curlews were only on site in low numbers.
The Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday, March 21, to discuss the controversial West Acre Park.
Planning permission had been approved for the 473-home development in July 2021, but not formally issued as legal matters were determined and secured to improve highways and provide affordable housing.
During the negotiations, Natural England raised the point an 11-hectare designated bird habitat site — where curlew had been spotted and was a feeding ground for migrating birds — had not been considered as part of the plans.
A curlew study has now been undertaken and up to 15 were seen at any one time on the site — which Isle of Wight Council planning officers considered to be a very low level.
Around 77 per cent of the designated site is intended to be a ‘suitable alternative natural green space’, with roads and buildings occupying the other part, but Natural England considers all the land would be lost.
To rectify the matter, a 6.4-hectare greenfield site nearby has been identified to provide an enhanced habitat which would be kept free of activity so the birds would not be disturbed.
Officers consider the additional land to be a ‘significant enhancement over and above’ the current site and could encourage more birds to the area.
Another matter which has been altered is the potential impact on human rights as it was argued the development would be detrimental to the family operating Westridge Farm, who would lose their home, employment and income.
The family have since surrendered their agricultural tenancy of the farm and has left.
This human rights argument was balanced against other planning matters by the committee but officers now say less weight should be given to it as the circumstances have now changed.
Councillors now have three options: agree to change the heads of terms, including the extra land for the curlew; ask for alternative mitigation; or reconsider the application in its entirety.
Officers recommend agreeing the changes as the revised mitigation works are ‘appropriate and acceptable’, which would mean the development could proceed.
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